District of Columbia Mayoral candidate, Councilmember Muriel Bowser, right, celebrates as she walks onstage to address supporters at her election night watch party to await the Democratic mayoral primary ... more

Photo: Cliff Owen, Associated Press

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Scandal-weary voters boot D.C. mayor from office

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WASHINGTON -- Reeling from allegations by federal prosecutors that he knew about the dirty tricks that helped him get elected four years ago, District of Columbia Mayor Vincent Gray tried to rally his base. But his core supporters weren't nearly enough, as a scandal-weary electorate rallied behind a much-younger challenger who promised honest and ethical leadership.

The defining moment of the election occurred three weeks earlier in a courtroom. Federal prosecutors say Gray knew about an illegal $668,000 slush fund that helped him defeat incumbent Adrian Fenty in 2010.

Five people involved with his previous campaign have pleaded guilty to felonies and the new allegations surfaced as part of a plea deal for the businessman who provided the illegal funds.

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Gray has denied all wrongdoing and has not been charged with a crime. But his attorney has said he is preparing for a possible indictment, and U.S. Attorney Ronald Machen said the charges thus far represent "the tip of the iceberg."

Bowser pounced on Gray's weakness earlier than most. She launched her campaign little more than halfway through the mayor's term, knocking on doors around the city with a determination similar to Fenty, her political mentor.

Her surge to a surprisingly easy victory coincided with the latest developments in the investigation. Incomplete results early Wednesday showed Bowser with 44 percent of the vote to 32 percent for Gray.

The Democratic primary winner has gone on to win every mayoral election in the district, where 75 percent of registered voters are Democrats.

But Bowser will face a credible challenger this November: independent D.C. Councilman David Catania, 46, a former Republican who has championed progressive causes since leaving the party in 2004.

Gray and Bowser are both black. The district has never elected a white mayor in 40 years of self-rule. Catania is white.